Hey Sisters! Do you experience headaches, dizziness, or nausea? I’m here to help you understand what causes these symptoms with the facts
Many women experience a variety of symptoms during menopause. Hot flashes and night sweats are the most common, but headaches, dizziness, and nausea are also common. Studies have shown that these symptoms can occur at any point in your life — not just during menopause — but may be more likely if you’re going through menopause. (I will not discuss a million types of headaches in this article), or else I will give you one! So let’s talk about some factors that might cause these symptoms in women who are going through or are going through menopause:
Hormonal changes
Hormonal changes are another culprit of menopausal symptoms and may cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea. As estrogen levels fall in your body during menopause, you may experience a wide range of symptoms, including hot flashes that can last up to 15 minutes.
Menopause is a natural process that marks the end of menstruation and fertility in women. As a result, it’s normal to cause emotional and physical changes such as hot flushes and night sweats.
Stress
Stress is one of the most common causes of headache and dizziness, and perimenopause can be a stressful time. Many women feel more anxious or depressed during menopause, which can cause headaches. If you experience mood changes with your headaches, try to find ways to reduce your stress levels so that they don’t become worse. Some methods that may help include:
- Exercise;
- Practicing yoga;
- Getting enough sleep;
- Meditating or doing breathing exercises daily;
- Spending time with friends and family;
Sleep problems
In addition to the above symptoms, insomnia and difficulty sleeping are common in women with menopausal hot flashes. Sleep disturbances include:
- Difficulty falling asleep
- Waking up frequently during the night
- Waking up too early in the morning feeling tired
These symptoms result from poor sleep quality (poor body posture when sleeping) and hormonal changes that affect your natural sleep rhythm. In addition, these problems can be exacerbated by environmental factors such as noise or light pollution at bedtime, excessive use of electronics before bedtime, and caffeine consumption later in the day.
Fatigue
If you’re exhausted, it might be that your body is having to work harder to keep itself cool. You may also have frequent hot flashes that make sleeping hard at night.
If these symptoms are awful, you should discuss a treatment plan specific to your needs with your doctor.
Blood sugar level fluctuations
A drop in estrogen can cause a sudden change in blood sugar level and the body’s response. The symptoms, such as headaches and nausea, may be similar to what you experience after eating a high-sugar meal.
Food sensitivities
- Food sensitivities. Some women experience headaches, dizziness, and nausea after eating certain foods. One way to determine whether there is a connection between your symptoms and food is to cut out one food at a time from your diet for two weeks. Try eliminating dairy products first, which can cause headaches due to the presence of estrogen in milk products. If you do not notice improvement after two weeks without dairy products, eliminate another food group (such as beef or citrus fruits). If this does not solve the problem, talk with your doctor about conducting an allergy test and changing medications if needed. The only way to determine whether something you eat causes these reactions is by eliminating it from your diet for two weeks before reintroducing it slowly over several days so that any adverse reactions are more pronounced.
Dehydration
Dehydration can be a problem for anyone but is especially common in women going through menopause. During this time, you may sweat more than usual and lose your appetite—both symptoms that make it more challenging staying hydrated. In addition, if you’re not drinking enough fluids, your body will pull water from wherever it can find it, including your brain cells, which can cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea (especially when standing up).
If you suspect dehydration is causing these symptoms for you, if they’re accompanied by other health issues like fever or chills—or if they won’t go away, talk to your doctor immediately about the possibility of menopause-related health problems like hypothyroidism. Your doctor may recommend over-the-counter supplements such as potassium iodide tablets (for low thyroid hormone levels) or Vitamin B2 supplements (for low red blood cell counts).
Excessive medication use or underlying health problems
It is imperative to discuss any medications you take, including over-the-counter ones. An underlying health problem may cause a headache or dizziness problem. It would help to consider whether you are taking too many pain relievers. Overuse of aspirin and ibuprofen can lead to rebound headaches, nausea, and other problems such as stomach bleeding and ulcers.
Take Away
Headaches, dizziness, and nausea are common symptoms of menopause that can be managed. If you are experiencing these symptoms, consider making a doctor’s appointment to discuss your options for treating them. In that case, there are many over-the-counter medications available that can help relieve these uncomfortable symptoms. (comment below if you would like suggestions).
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Sisters support sisters, so let’s support each other. Feel free to use the share buttons in this article so more women can get help and feel great! XOXO Mary
